Brace yourselves, iOS fans, because it looks like new iPhones are getting close. Apple just sent out invitations for an event taking place on Sept. 10 at its headquarters in Cupertino. As you can see in the invitation received by The Loop, the company hasn't said exactly what it plans to show at the event, but it does tease that whatever it's got planned "should brighten everyone's day." Several reports have suggested that it's planning to announce the next-generation iPhone on that date, and possibly its lower-cost iPhone as well.
Apple's new iPhone is expected to be dubbed the "iPhone 5S," following the naming system that the Cupertino firm used in its transition from the
iPhone 3G to the
3GS and the
iPhone 4 to the
4S. The new handset will likely look similar to the iPhone 5, save for
a new champagne-flavored model, and will reportedly pack an upgraded processor and improved rear camera with a dual-LED flash.
Meanwhile, the lower-cost iPhone 5C will eschew the aluminum and glass construction of recent iPhone models in favor of a plastic backside that will make it easier on the wallet. This new housing will also allow Apple to sell the device in multiple colors (a feature that seems to have been confirmed by the brightly-colored dots on Apple's invitation). The internals of the 5C will allegedly be similar to those found in the iPhone 5, including a 4-inch Retina display and Lightning connector.
iOS 7 will likely round out the Sept. 10 event. Originally announced at WWDC in June, iOS 7 brings with it the biggest overhaul to Apple's mobile OS yet, including new icons, refreshed multitasking, Control Center and more. Developers have been beta testing iOS 7 in recent months, and Apple will probably use this Sept. 10 gathering to review everything that it's packed into the update and perhaps even reveal a surprise feature or two.
When it comes to Apple's launch plans for its new iPhone hardware, the firm typically rolls out its new iOS products within a couple of weeks after their debut.
Rumors of employee vacation blackouts at Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have suggested that we could see a launch happen on Friday, Sept. 20, which would fit into Apple's usual timeline. All of the nitty gritty details on Apple's new iPhones are likely going to be revealed at this Sept. 10 event, which kicks off at 10:00 a.m. PT, so keep it locked to PhoneDog and I'll be sure to keep you in the know.
